GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.--No. 25.
The following is published.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 17th January, 1894.
No. 961
RECO C:0. 248 3409
Raf 24 FEE 94
G. T. M. O'BRIEN, Colonial Secretary,
"IMPÉRIEUSE AT HONGKONG,
6th January, 1894.
St.-I have the honour to forward herewith, for your Excellency's information, reports from Captain BURR, of Her Majesty's Ship Porpoise on his visit to the Pescadores,
2. The negative of the photograph of the monument and graves on Sand Island to which allusion is made by Captain BURR in his letter is in the hands of Mr. TERA of Hongkong, who is I understand prepared to sell copies to any who may be desirous of purchasing them.
I have the honour to be,
His Excellency Sir,
Your Excellency's obedient Servant,
E. R. FREMANTLE, Vice-Admiral.
SIR WILLIAM ROBINSON, K.C.M.G.,
Governor,
HONGKONG.
Visit to Sand Island, Pescadores, by H.M.S. "Porpoise."
Her Majesty's Ship Porpoise arrived off the Western side of Sand Island on 31st December, 1893, at 7 A.M., a fresh breeze blowing at the time which made communication difficult.
2. A working party in charge of an Officer was at once sent on shore with appliances for bringing off the "skid" which was left by H.M.S. Mercury, but nothing of the kind was to be found, although the whole island underwent the most careful search by the party who landed; it is presumed that Chinese fishermen must have broken it up and carried it away for firewood. Two Chinese fishermen however were found living in a small hut on the island and though the skid was described to them they denied any knowledge of having seen it.
3. I inspected the graves and found them all in good order and quite untouched by any marauding Chinese or fisherman and nothing required doing to them excepting perhaps substantial crosses fixed over the grave mounds to make the respective places more prominent. The two fishermen already alluded to explained, through an interpreter, that there was no fear of anyone molesting the graves or obelisk.
4. I walked around every part of the island and saw nothing further of interest. The obelisk appears firmly planted on the top of the Northern hill and can be seen a long distance, in fact in clear weather it can be made out from the lighthouse, a distance of 10 miles, the keeper informing me he had often made it out.
The words on the obelisk are as follows:-
Erected by the residents of Hongkong in memory of those who perished in the wreck of
"the S.S. Bokhara on the 10th October, 1892."
I was somewhat surprised to find that the names of the Europeans who were lost on this sad occasion were omitted.
5. Mr. B. WATKINS, Engineer of this ship, accompanied me on shore and various photographic views of the obelisk and scene of the disaster were taken, which will be duly forwarded when they are completed.
6. I think we were fortunate in successfully landing. The Sampson was employed on the wreck of the Bokhara from October, 1892, to May, 1893, during which time she had only 16 working days, which shows how rare occasions are on which a landing on Sand, and neighbouring islands, can be effected during the N.E. monsoon, which wind prevails at the Pescadores 9 months out of the year.
7. There is nothing left to be seen of the Bokhara above water, but I am informed in calm weather the boilers and engines can be distinctly made out at the bottom in about eight fathoms. I went to look at the place where she was wrecked, but in consequence of the heavy surf could not get close enough to see for myself.
8. H.M.S. Porpoise, having performed the duties on which she was sent, left Sand Island on 31st December, 1893, at 9.30 A.M. and arrived at Hongkong on the 1st January, 1894.
(Signed), J. LESLIE BURR,
Commander.
H.M.S. Porpoise, 1st January, 1894.